Circuit breaker



Sept. 25, 1923. 7 1,468,651

J. R. SPUR-RIER CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Sept. 29, 9- 3 Sheets-$heet 2 rent during running conditions, would cause,

Patented Sept. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs.

JOHN R. SPURRIER, O1 BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR- TO ROLLER-SMITH.

COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT Application filed September To all whom 1'1 may concern: I

Be it known that I. Join: R: Srtmantn, a

citizen of the United States residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-.

lain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit breakers and is particularly adapted for use in connection with the small sizes of motors which are en'lployed for the operation of domestic maehiner a One object of the invention is to produce a con'ipact circuit breaker adapted to handle relatively large amounts of energy. Another object is to make the device completely enclosed so as to shield its interior from tampering, to protect the device from dust and d} rt and to safeguard the user from contact with any parts of the device, Another ob ject is to adapt the breaker to be conveniently closed and opened manually when desired by simple means. Another object is to so relate theparts of the controllin means that in the closing of the breaker, the initial rush of current in starting the motor or other device will not. cause the breaker to be opened, but after the initial rush of current, any recurrence of an overload curtbe breaker to be immediately opened.

This feature is especially desirable in a circuit breaker for controlling motors of the character above referred to, because theyare usually unprovidedwith any special means to reduce the startingcurrent; and it is of I course desirable that the starting current should not trip the breaker, but an overload current during running conditions should of course instantly trip the breaker. Other ob jects of this invention will be understood from the following description and accom-- panying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 isa front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross section on line 33 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5v

BREAKER.

29, 1919. Serial No. 327,149.

[or casing 2. This cover is firmly held in position byU-shaped guides 3 extending inwardly from each side of the cover. Bolts 4 are firmly mounted upon the base 1 and extend outwardly from the base so as to be engaged by the guides 3 of the cover and i thus hold the latter in fixed position. The

cover is held firmly against the base by screws 4"which make threaded engagement with the tapped outer ends of the bolts 4.

On the base 1 ismounted a flat rectangular sheet 5 of steel or other magnetic' material. To the lower end of this plate 5 is secured a sheet metal piece 6 of iron or steel forming the lower end frame support of the circuit breaker elements. This end piece 6 has a' flat supporting portion by which. it is secured to the plate 5 and has.

a horizontally outwardly extending portion, and at its outer end a downwardly vertically extending portion 6. It is also providedwith doivi'iwardly extending side portions "6 which give strengthto this end frame andalso serve as a support for parts later referred to.-

At the upper end of the plate 5 is mounted the upper end frame 7 which is in the form of a vertical supporting part by which it is 1 secured tothe plate 5 and has an outwardly horizontally extending portion 7; it also has upwardly extendingside portions 7".

A hollow brass tube 8 extends from the upper frame 7 through a hole inthe central partof the lower frame 6'. The overload coil 9 is wound upon the tube 8 between the end heads- A cylindrical iron plug 10 is fixed in the upper end of the tube 8; and a cylindrical plunger 11 is freely movable in v the tube and normally rests against an adjustable screw 12 in the lower end of the tube 8 and having a threadedengagement therewith. Turning the screw 12 adjusts the norinal position of the a brass pin 13. The pin 13 extends freelv plunger 11 to any desired position. The plunger 12. has a cent 'tral hole in its upper end for supporting through a central hole in the upper plug which serves as a guide for the pin.

' The Ll-shaped lever 11 for closing the breaker is pivoted and supported at its lower ends by the side extensions 6 of the frame 6. The upper oortion of the frame 14: is

two side pieces piyotied at their inner ends to side portions Y of the end trame 7 at.

16", the two side pieces of the latch being joined by a horizontally extending bridge portion 16 which is over the plunger and pin 13 of the breaker. The outer lower end of each side piece of the latch is notched and engages the shoulders 11" of the retaining arm 1-1- when the breaker is in closed position. The breaker is anttmiatically opened when the plunger 11 is raised and the upper end of the pin 13 strikes against the portion 16 ot' the retaining latch. thus releasing the arm 11 and permittingthe spring pressed contacts to move quickly to open position.

In order to prevent the breaker from being automatically opened during the start ing of the motor or other dev ce controlled by the breaker. and in order to close the breaker manually. a plunger 17 is used which extends horizontally and outside the cover The-outer end of this plunger is provided with a button 1? marked Close in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the plunger is supported and guided by a tube 18 fixed at its outer end to the cover and extending inwardly. The --:-lunger 1'? is provided with a cross pin 1' which engages slots 18 in the purpose of limiting the outward ant inward movement or the plunger 1?. The cross pin 1T extends outwardly a slant distance beyond the tube 18 and when the plunger 17 is pressed in' wardly. the nter ends of the pin 1T engage the siocs o't'the circumterential portion 14;

.ot' the arm 1-; 1d thereby forces the arm 1-l inwardly until" retained by the latch 16 as shown in Fig. But during this closing movement, the inner end of the plunger .17 is forced inwardly so as to come in the path of the. tripping pin 13; consequently during the closing of the breaker and starting of the motor or other device controlled, the passage oti any overload current, which would otherwise trip the breaker, will then merely cause the pin 13 to strike a aiust; the inner nd of the plunger 1'? and thus pre vent the trippi g of the l tch. 'hen the operator releases his thntn 7 or ling r from the closing button 17. the plunger 1'? is pressed outwardly by a leaf-spring 19, the

lower end of which is fastened to the out ward end of the frame 6. The upper end of the spring 19 is circular and embraces the tube 18 and also engages the inner sides of the outer ends of the cross pin 17*, thus tending to hold the plunger 1T in its outer position.

The breaker is manually opened when desired, by pushing the button 20 marked Open in Fig.1. ()nthe same pin through theside extensions 6". upon which the arm 1 1 is mounted. is also mounted a lever 21. This lever is made up of the two pivotally mounted side pieces, which are united by the fiat portion 21, which latter is lo *ated opposite the inner end o'l plunger 20. The plunger 20" is slidably mounted in the cover 2 and has the button 20 mounted upon its outer end. A leaf-spring 22 secured at one end to the outer part ot the frame 6, the outer end of the leal spring being under a pin 20* extending through the plunger 20, thus causing the plunger iitt to be normally forced outwardly by the leaf spring 22. In the inner end of one of the side pieces of the lever 31 is pivotally mounted a rod 23. which extends upwardly and is pivotally connected at its upper end to one of the side pieces of the latch 16. Evidently pressing the button 20 causes the plunger '20 to strike the bridging portion 21 of the lever 21 causing the lever to turn upon its pivotal mounting in the tramc (3. This causes the rot :23 to be raised and consequently raises the latch 16 and permits the breaker to open.

The fixed contacts of the breaker are mounted within the base 1 in layers i-lot liber or other insulating material secured to the base 1 by screws 25. The leads 26 are comiccted to terminal blocks 2T encased in the insulating material 'l-l. Each block 2" carries an outwardly extcndimr portion in threaded engagement with the middle layer of insulation and torm the lixcd contacts The fixed contacts are each separately enclosed by a tube ol. insulating material which extends into the base 1 and have rxtcrnal screw threaded engagement with the. outer layer of insulating material The outer ends of tubes 29 are closed except for a central opening to permit the tree movement of the shanks 30 of the movable contacts. Each shank 30 carries an inner circular head 30 adapted to rooperate with the fixed contacts 28. The shanks 30 of the movable contacts have an outer portion 30 of reduced diameter. which extend treely through the cross head 31 ol insulating material. Ilut s 30 on the outer ends ol' the reduced portions 30 insure that the movable contaets will be separated from the fixed contacts wnen the cross head ll thrown outwardly. Washers in are located against the shoulders of the shanks 3G and In order to guide the contacts and bridge .31, a metal tube 32 is firmlymounted within the insulating layers 24 by a threaded engagement and nut 32*. A plunger 33 freely movable in the tube 32 is fixed at its outerend to the insulating bridge 31 by a threaded engagement and thus serves as a guide in the movement of the movable contacts.

A coil spring 34 encircles the tube 32 between the base 1 and a washer 32".. This spring tends to force .the breaker to open position when released by latch 16.

Below the contacts and at each side of the breaker is firmly mounted upon the, base 1 an insulating tube of fiber or other material 35, being shown as secured to the base by a screw 35 which extends through the base and engages the fiber tube. A flexible lead 36is in electrical connection with each movable contact, respectively, by being clamped between the nuts 30. Each flexible lead 36 extends respectively down through thetop o'f-a tube 35 and out .through a side hole therein near the base and are in electrical connection with the terminals of the overload coil 9.

In operation, the operator presses the but ton 17 which forces the breaker to closed position as above explained. The circuit through the circuit breaker contacts and overload coil is obviously from one lead 26 to a fixed contact and to a movable contact; then through a flexible lead 36 to the over- .load coil 9 and from the overload coil 9 through the other flexible I lead 36 to the other movable and fixed contacts to the outside lead 26. The operator in the closing of the breaker causes the plunger 17 to extend in the path of the tripping pin 13 so that during the flow of the starting current the breaker cannot be tripped when the pin 13 is raised during the starting period, the initial current being several times as great as the normal current. If it were not for the plunger 17 the initial rush of currentmeans for forming a barrier tothe occurrence of any subsequent overload current, the plunger 17 being retracted by spring 19 after the operator releases the button 17.

Although I have described one embodiment of my invention it will be. understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention.

I claim 1. A circuit breaker comprising a controlling coil and tripping means having an upward 'n'iovement for tripping the breaker, means for closing said breaker independently of saidtripping means andfor introducing a barrier for preventing the upward.

opening movement of the tripping means during the initial closing of the breaker,. and means for removing said barrier upon release of the closing means.

2. A circuit breaker. comprising a controlling coil, a movable plunger controlled I thereby having an upward movement for tripping the breaker, means for closing the breaker independently of said plunger, a barrier controlled by the ciosing means for preventing the upward opening movement of the plunger during initial closing of the breaker, and means for removing said barrier upon releasing the closing means.

3. A ciruit breaker comprising a con trolling coil, end frames at opposite ends of said coil, retaining means mounted in one of said end frames for holding the breaker in closed position and manually controlled means mounted in the other end frame for causing the opening of the breaker.

4. A circuit breaker comprising a controlling coil, retaining means at one end of said coil for holding the breaker in closed position, means mounted at the other end of the coil for controlling the release of said retaining means, a plunger at one end of the coil formanually closing the breaker and a plunger at the other end of the coil for manually opening the breaker through said controlling meansr 5. A circuit breaker comprising fixed contacts, yieldably mounted plunger contacts, a controlling coil'below said contacts, a pivoted arm mounted at the lower end of said coil for closing the breaker, a latch mounted at the upper-end of said coil for engaging said arm to hold the contacts inelosed position, acasing enclosing the breaker and means extending outside the casing and adapted to engage said arm for manually closing the breaker.

6. A 'circuitbreaker comprising an overloadcoil, a plunger controlled thereby for tripping the breaker, manual means for closing the breaker independently of plunger, means controlled by said an movementof said plunger during the closing of the breaker, and means for removing said barrier upon release of said manual means.

7. A circuit breaker comprising a controlling coil and tripping means,-nieans for closing the breaker independently of said tripping means, means controlled by said closing means for introducing a barrier for preventing the operation oi said tripping means during the initial closing of the breaker, and means whereby said barrier is removed upon release of said closing means.

8. A circuit breaker comprising a controlliiig coil and tripping means, means for closing the breaker independently of said tripping means. a plunger controlled b v said means for preventing thooperation of said tripping means during the initial closing of the breaker, and means \vhereb said plunger upon release of said closing means s moved to a position to permit the operaan ement for closing the'breaker independntly or said'latch, an element contra av said means for preventing said rri device fromirippin; the latch durin initial closing of the breaker. and movi said la'i lemem upon said nianuall 1 illed means the .o; eralion o1 device.

l0. 3.. circuit breaker comprising cont" pivoted-arm said cont i w to close the coin said arm. 1; nonement contzwlled by said coil for trip 'iing said latch, a barrier controlled by said handle for preventing the operation or said mo "able element dur. *5 the initial closingof the bre: her. and means for moving said barrier upon the release of said handle to permit the operation of said movable element.

11. A circuit breaker comprising a coil. having a vertical axis. contacts above said coil, an arm pivoted at the lower end 0t said coil for closing said contacts, a latch at the upper end of said coil. for retaining said arm, a plunger in the coil :t'or tripping said latch, a manual element tormoving said arm, a barrier for preventing the movement of said plunger during the initial closing oi the breaker. and means for removing said barrier after the breaker has been closed.

12. A circuit breaker comprising a con trolling coil and tripping means having an upward movement for tripping tnebre. her, a push button for closing said breaker, a second push button for (queuing the breaker, a barrier controlled by the closing: button prcven p of the breaker during the initial of the breaker. and means for movsaid barrier to permit operation of the tripping TDBHHS upon release of the closing button.

n; the upward movement and 

